(Snowy) Early Winter

November and December in New Mexico have been surprisingly snowy, and we have been taking full advantage of both the indoor and outdoor recreation activities.

In early November, we went to our good friend Jennie's opening in Santa Fe. She also made our wedding dishes and is available to make a wide variety of things, check our her etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenniejohnsrud.

We went to this amazing event at Jemez National Monument where they put luminarias (or farolitos in NM) on the ruins of an  old pueblo.

Once it got dark, the candles lit up and some dancers from the Jemez pueblo performed.

I got to head up to the Sandia Mountains with some pals for some early December skiing.  Thanks to Candyce for the ski loan!

Then Ben had a snow day.  Seriously, this is all it took.  To be fair, places in the mountains got almost a foot.

Our Carleton friend Leilani lives up in Taos, a very cool little skiing village.

We have never been cross-country skiing in the mountains before and it was so beautiful. Leilani took us backcountry skiing in Los Brazos in Northern New Mexico to test our skills.

The three of us had an awesome time!

Leilani and her husband (sadly he had to work while we went skiing) were our intrepid guides to Taos- skiing, music, parties. Thanks Justin and Leilani!

Whoa!  Check out that scenery.

Happy and exhausted after a long ski.

A Thousand Autumns

One of New Mexico's principle charms is that Fall lasts basically forever. September through early    November is a long procession of heartbreakingly beautiful days. So we did some pretty good stuff: paid a visit to the Tinkertown Museum ("New Mexico's Premier Folk Art Environment") on the east side of the Sandias; hiked the Piedra Lisa trail; camped in the 4th of July Canyon in the Manzanos; checked out the Dia de los Muertos Marigold Parade in the south valley . By the way, if you ever make the drive to said campsite please be aware that packs of near-feral dogs may attack your car (while it is moving) at any moment. We know that now. 

A hand carved circus at the Tinkertown Museum.

These guys were pretty good (although I prefer their earlier stuff).

This is me on the Piedra Lisa. Just looking at trees.

20 minutes from our house, people.

Above the 4th of July Canyon

A windy peak.

Witness the amazing Hispano-hippie, desert black metal vibe of the Marigold Parade

And again.